Coding and marking are essential processes on food, personal care and pharmaceutical production lines. Flexible food packaging applications are particularly demanding, requiring clear variable data, barcodes and QR codes as well as stable performance throughout continuous production.
A thermal transfer overprinter (TTO) is a proven digital coding solution that uses a contact-based process to print high-resolution information on laminated flexible packaging films. It can produce production dates, expiration dates, traceability codes, batch numbers and other essential variable data.
Drawing on a real overseas project, this case study examines how Hanin FC53 Series TTO printers create operational value on automated flexible packaging lines.
1. Project Background
The customer is a leading company in Russia's dairy industry, with a product portfolio covering liquid milk, butter, probiotic beverages and ice cream.
Its existing production lines needed to print production dates, serial numbers, Data Matrix codes and product traceability codes consistently on multiple flexible food packaging materials, including milk pouches and aluminum foil wrappers for butter.
The customer required excellent print clarity, reliable continuous operation and multilingual printing capabilities. After evaluating these requirements, it selected Hanin FC53 Series TTO printers for multiple packaging coding stations.
2. Solution: Hanin FC53 Series TTO Printers
Hanin continues to invest in TTO printer research and development, designing its products around the actual operating conditions of system integrators and production facilities. The company offers multiple series of customizable thermal transfer overprinters for packaging equipment manufacturers and factories worldwide. Reliable hardware performance and comprehensive after-sales support have earned Hanin the trust of customers across global markets.
Hanin's industrial thermal transfer coding portfolio addresses different production-line requirements:
✔️ The DC24 Series is designed to replace traditional hot-stamp coding machines that use brass type. It supports rapid installation on existing mounting brackets.
✔️ The flagship FC53 Series is developed for high-speed automated lines at medium and large factories, making it an efficient coding solution for flexible food packaging.
✔️ The FC107 and FC128 models support wide-format coding applications, including ingredient lists and nutrition facts panels.
For this leading Russian dairy producer, the FC53 Series addressed the combined requirements of high-speed production, multiple flexible packaging materials and high-resolution variable-data printing.
• Industrial-Grade Durability for Less Downtime
The FC53 Series features a robust all-metal housing and a high-quality printhead developed by Hanin. It is engineered for continuous, high-intensity operation in factories and production workshops.
The TTO printer comes standard with a high-capacity 900-meter ribbon, reducing the frequency of ribbon changes and improving the overall operating efficiency of the packaging line.
• High-Resolution Variable Printing for Reliable Traceability
With a print resolution of 300 dpi and precise sensing technology, the FC53 Series consistently prints production dates, serial numbers, barcodes, Data Matrix codes and traceability codes.
Clear, legible coding on every pouch or package helps food manufacturers meet product traceability and regulatory requirements.
• Multilingual Support for International Markets
The FC53 Series natively supports multilingual character printing, allowing manufacturers to comply with packaging requirements across different countries and regions. This capability makes the thermal transfer overprinter suitable for companies serving multiple international markets.
• Easy Operation and Variable-Content Editing
The automatic batch coding machine supports local touchscreen operation, allowing production teams to edit print content directly at the line. It also supports variable barcode printing.
When used with Hanin FormatDesigner software, operators can flexibly create and edit more complex content, including ingredient information, batch details and variable QR codes.
• Global Service Support for Long-Term Production Stability
Hanin is a professional provider of comprehensive printing solutions with a complete in-house research and development team. Its portfolio covers printing equipment for home, commercial and industrial applications, with products sold in more than 100 countries.
For overseas factories and equipment integrators, Hanin provides localized, timely and professional technical assistance and after-sales service, helping production lines maintain stable long-term operation.
• Flexible Printing Modes, High Speed and Broad Material Compatibility
The FC53 Series automatic batch coding machine supports both continuous and intermittent printing modes, with a maximum print speed of 600 mm/s. In continuous mode, its print area reaches up to 53 × 100 mm.
The machine is compatible with commonly used flexible packaging films, including PVDC, PET, PE, NY, CPP and OPP. These capabilities make the FC53 suitable as a batch coding machine for pouches, plastic bags, milk pouches and foil-based packaging.
Beyond the dairy industry, the FC53 is widely suited to automated packaging lines in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care and cosmetics manufacturing. It is an effective coding solution for manufacturers that require high print precision and reliable continuous operation.
Hanin Printing Solutions for Global Production Lines
Hanin has developed a diversified portfolio across printing technology, including industrial coding machines, POS printers, mobile printers, barcode scanners, digital textile printers and intelligent software development.
Supported by extensive industrial printing expertise and continuous innovation, Hanin provides global customers with stable, cost-effective and customizable printing solutions.
If you are selecting a TTO printer for an automated packaging line, replacing an outdated hot-stamp coding machine or planning an international project that requires multilingual coding and variable traceability data, contact Hanin for a project-specific solution and technical evaluation.